Dutch MP Pieter Omtzigt is resigning from his party, the CDA. He announced this on Saturday Twitter.
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The reason for Omtzigt’s resignation is the publication of an internal memorandum, in which the MP lashed out at his party and from which it appeared that some party members called him ‘terrifying dog’, ‘psychopath’ and ‘disturbed’. ‘Now that this piece and part of my sharp vision are out on the street, it has become even more difficult for me to continue to function within the CDA’, Omtzigt says.
The leaked memo led to great unrest within the CDA, which is an important partner in the formation talks for a new Dutch government. Omtzigt himself has been at home since February.
Omtzigt states that he has the ‘intention’ to return to Dutch politics as an independent Member of Parliament, but first he says he wants to recover from a burnout. “I have not yet made any decisions about how I will shape my political future and will not make any decisions until I have fully recovered,” he wrote.
Disappointed
Party leader Wopke Hoekstra and party chairman Marnix van Rij let in a reaction know that they are ‘extremely disappointed and shocked’ by Omtzigt’s departure. “We can only respect his decision but had hoped for a different outcome.”
Hoekstra and Van Rij say that they have had ‘many conversations’ with Omtzigt and that they have done everything ‘with each other’ to ‘avoid this moment’. They call the leaking of the note ‘very damaging’. They thank the MP for his ‘years of unbridled commitment’, wish him ‘all the best’ and a speedy recovery from his burnout.
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